Envelop-sealing machine.



G, J. ALBREGHT. NVELOP SEALlNG MACHINE. APPIJGATION FILED Amma, 1909.RBNEWBD Nov.

'Patented M1126, 19l5.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. J. ALBRBGHT. BNVELOP SBALNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED A1 R.12. 1909. RENIIWED Nov.1a, 1914.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WUI? JAL G. J. ALBRECHT.` BNVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDM1112, 1909. RENBWBD 11011.13, 1914.

1,125,926, Patented 1211.211915. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig. 4f 57 65 79 o 2 G. LALBREGHT. BNVELOP SEALNG MACHINE.

APPLIUATIO FILED APR.12, 1909. RENEWBD NOV.13,1914.

Patented Jn. 26, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m k mik bww @MQ G. J. ALBERGHI. ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATIONFILED APR.12, 1909. RENEYVED NOV.13,1914.

1.125,926. l Patented Jan. 26, 1915."

QZ/765565; fin/72 an L @am f www# 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'l It" V 1% G. J. ALBREGHT.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..12, 1909. BENEWED NOV. 13, 1914.

1,125,926. f Patented Jan.26,1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUIDQy J. ALBRECHT, vOIE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIG-NOR TO LONGMAILING MACHINE COMPANY, -OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION.

ENVELOP-SEALING MACHINE.

.Application led April 12, 1909, Serial No. 489,270.

To all whom 'it may concer/n.' l

Be i't'known that I, Grumo J. ALBEon'i, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Sealing Machines, of which the following is a `specification.

My invention relates to machines or apparatus for inoistening andsealing the `guniined {iaps of envelops.

The main object of the'inventionjs improvement of the means forinoistening the gummed portionsv of the flaps by providing' a sprayer;but a further object is improvement of the ine-ans employed in machinesof this class for presenting the envelops in succession to theinoistening device; for moving them'thence to an assembling device; andfor closing and sealing the moistened flaps.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l1 is a front-end elevation of an envelop sealing machineembodying my improvements, and showing the actuating parts in positionfor moving a nioistened envelop downward to be folded and racked.l"i`g.`2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine.approximately on the plane of the broken line w-wof Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to(i are elevations, partly sectional, of approximately the left half ofFig. 2, showing the relative positions of the moving parts at diiierentstages of the operation of conveying an envelop from the upper to thelower rack and folding its flap during the transfer. Fig. 7 is a frontelevation and Fig. -8 a plan view of the parts at the right of thebroken line m-m/'ot Fig. 2.' Fig. 9 is Specification of Letters Patent.

:sides shorter than the outer'. These stops are made adjustable towarand Renewed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 872,041.

bars 5 andl cross-pieces .6, for supporting the y The unsealed -envelops7, y

sealed envelops. with their iiaps 8 open, are arranged in uprightposition on the upper rack and at thel inner end abut a pair of stops9preferably of channel shape and having their inner (See Fi 8.)

away from each other to adapt-them for envelope of different lengths, byattaching them to rods 10 that' are slidable on theframe work and areheld in placeby setscrews 11. The lower'rack has the inner ends 12 ot'its bars 5 bent to upright ositions, for retaining the sealed enve ops.These racks are preferably arranged in inwhereby their inclinations canbe varied,

Patented Jan. 26, 1915. 4

and their locations on the frame may bead- `iusted to accommodate forenvelops of different widths. i

For holding the unsealed envelope in place andfeeding them successivelyto the moistening device, a:l gravitating follower 16 is provided, andit may be carried, as shown,

on the upright portion 17 of a trnckf`18 which is mounted on vgroovedwheels 19 that run on a pair of the bars 3. The follower plate or body16 is connected with the upright member 17 by slotted arms 2O that'eireltend through openings in the member 17 in which are pins 21 that guidethearms; and

at the ends of the arms are-.regulating screws a detail view of the camfor actuating the and 2 the horizontal members of the inai chine traine.ln the. upper rearward portion ot this main iraine is secured an open-.work frame consisting of longitudinal bars 3 and cross pieces 4 andproviding the rack orsiipport for the unsealed envelops; and

` in tgpxlower portion of the main frame is agsilnlar rack, composed oflike 22 for limiting the movement ofthe plate 16 away Jfrom the part1.7. A pair4 of springs' 23 is interposed between the parts 16 and 17for yieldingly holding the Jfollower to contact with the envelops.The'pressure of the follower against the envelops may be .increased ordecreased as requiredtiy means of a suitable weight 24. placed on'tlietruck.. The sealed envelope are held in place onthe lower rack by adevice substantially the same as that inst described and therefore needsno specific description.

The driving-shaft 25 of the machine is journaled in the frame atone.side,jand a driven shaft 26 is journaled in alinement with it in theopposite'side of the frame.

On the inner ends of the two shafts are s'e-`l cured crank-armsv 27which are connected pin328, 'and onthe'rod is pivotally inoiinte a yokeor fra-me member 2d 1in from which connectingfrods 30 extend up-` ivotedto a carrlagefor` .'verticgir'jpieces 31 and cross-bars 32 connect-l ingtheir ends and supporting uprightrods p )n these rods are upper and'lower'- slidahlc brackets 31 and 35, to the former fof whichltheconnecting-rods BO'are pivoted Iby a rod or pintles 36. On the brackets3l `and rismounted invertioal ,position aplate 37 provided withpinsorpoints 38 `.tor engaging the open envelop yandfcarrying itdownward from the u )per to the y p The upper fpor'tions and the lower`ends of the carriage parts, 31 are connected by radiusbars 239 andLlO'to the posts (l n n u l 1, whereby the carriage frame is maintainedat all. times in vertical position and isc'aused during portions of itsmovements to ad- Vance toward and. recede `from 'the envelop racks. p

The extreme upper position of the carriageis illustrated in Figs. l and2. Upon a hal'fturn, by means of an operating crank 41, Aor otherwise,the carriage and its `connections will be in approximately the'po'si-4tions shown in Fig. '4, and the carrier 37 will have lowered an envelopfromgthe' upper to the lower rack, and successive posl- "tions of thecarriage would be asindicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4'. Then, upon'furtherrotation of the driving-shaft the Acarriage will be moved away fromcontact with'the `enl velop and toward the front of the machine, andupward. as indicated inV Figs. 5 and 6. To aid in effecting this cycleof movements and to retract the carriage a propel` ldis` tance, thelower radius bars 4:0 are provided at their fulcrum points 42 with shortangular arms 13 which carry pins .44 that engage in cam-grooves 45formed in wheels 46 which are fast to the driving `and V'driven` shafts25 and 26. The operation 'of the arms by means ofthe engagement of'their pins 44 in the camlgr'oove's serves to move the radius bars towardthe front' ofv the machine after the carriage has delivered an envelopto the lower rack and during the `earlier portlon of the upward travelof the carriage,l as shown in Figs. 5 andv 6.

The front cross-bar 4 of the feed rack 3 i is provided with a resilientsupport or a se ries of resilient fingers 48, fastened-to its under sideand extending forwardjieyond the beveled front portion 4:7 of the barfor supporting one or more of the envelops.

.01 These fingers are preferably composed of rubber an d made ofsomewhat wedge shape to adapt their front ends to be veasily'bent toallow the envelop that is engaged by the car-` rier 37 to be removedfrom the rack. To the` same bar are also secured a series oi curvedpartial rotation of the driving-shaft, about of the 'envelops iseffected by the following downwardly extending springs 49 which serve tovicldinglihold the envelop to contact with the carrier during a portionoi its passage `from the upper tothe lower rack.

. And to the lower edge of the carrier are at- "racks is'l'ocated theflap-folder 51, consisting y of a fiat plate provided with slots 52 topr- `mit it to 'swing past the, springs 49. This folder iscarried oncranks 53 on theinner `ends oi short shafts 5l that `are jo'urnaled onthe posts 1. On the outer ends of these shaftsare cranks 55. andconnecting-rods 56 con'ne .t"them with' the longer upwardly extendingarms of levers 57 that are fulcrunied at 58 to the postsl. The shorterand downwardly. extending lever arms are provided vwith pins whichengage in camgrooves 60' in `canrwhecls 61 on the shafts 25A and e6. yThe' moistening of the gummed portions devices: A water reservoir 62 issupported at the upper front portion of the machine, and from it aseries of pipes 63 extends to the top ofthe frame where each pipe`communicats with an atomizer or spraying instrumentof any suitableconstruction. In the',style of atomizer selected for illustration eachpipe 63 has attached to it a head G4 which carries a nozzle 65, the bodyportion 66 of which is screw-threaded. A small cylinder 67 is screwedonto the nozzle bodyjand provides an interior air-chamber (i8 and anarrow passage-Way 69 for the air around the 4sides of the nozzle. Eachof the air chambers 68 is in communication with a 'branch pipe 70 thatis connected to an airsupply pipe 71, and the latter is supplied withair under pressure through a pipe 72 connected to a wrist 78 on thewheel 61.

The arrangement and connections of the operating mechanisms are suchthat `the slr n pump will be operated periodically and at l properintervalsmto spray the envelop flaps as they are successively exposed bythe removal of those in advance by the operation 1 of thecarrier.

To avoid undesirable moistening of the venvelope and to enable the sprayto be d1- rected to the gummed portions only of the i Raps. a box-likehousing 79 is mounted on the frame in front of the nozzles providing a,chamber 80 for receiving their discharge. The housing 1s preferablytapering or tansheped, being relatively` narrow at the renewing and wideat the discharglng end.

and thelatter end is provided with a slot 8l approximately ot'fthe samecurvature as the. envelop iaps and of proper lengtl'i and "Width todirect the spray to that portion of suitable shape and proliortir'ins toallow the spray to pass and to spread only enough to meisten the guimnedportion of the Hap. Obviously separate removable slides may be employedinstead of a single slide having slots ot different sizes and shapes.

For preventing vwater of' condensation tint may accumulate on the upperfront portion ot the housing 'from hein: blown through the slot a flangeSi' extending inward along the upper edge of the slot is provided. Taterthat muv gather in the K chamber 80 is returned to the zanl through"pipes 88.

Tie noZI/.le or nozzles (i3 lilowinfr the spray through the openingr Slformed in the. i'rcnt. of housing T9 constitutes means for directing thespray to the xe'unimed portions of the flaps. while said housing incomhination with flange 87 and pipes 8S. with its especial function ofreeeiviner and carrying l oit' all spray and moisture that might otherwise spread to other ,parts of the. envelop.

veon'iprises means for preventiner the inoisteningr of other 'portionsot the envelops. it is to he noted'. however. that the. real directing'moans the nozzles G5. the function ot housing and related parts beingsolely to protect other paies of the. envelop from the spray and limitits application to the grunimed flap.

In operation, starting with the operative parts 'of the machine in thepositions shown in Figs. l and 2. the initial operation of thedriving-shaft will start the carrier 37 downward on its` vertical`guides i. causing the "lower edge ci the engaged envelop to bend thepoints oll the supportinn` fingers 4S to al- ".iow the envelop to pass:a slight Afurther movement will bring the envelopto contact with theresistance springs if). which serve to hohl ther envelop against theface ot' the descending; carrier. (see Fie'. Si); and the .lower edge elthe carrier nears the stack .ot envelops on the lower rack the pressensprings will eniloge them and press them hack troni the stops l2. tomake room for the descending envelope. These operations are 'eiieoted byabout av third oi' a turn ot the shaift 25 'rwhich serves to swing thecranks 2T from the position shown `in Figs. l and 2 to that shown inFig'. and a short further rotation will serve to seat the envelop in the.lower rack. as shown in Fig'. l. ihen the envelop has thus` heendelivered. t'urther rotation ol the .driving shaft to initial positionwill serve to rotate the. calin-wheel (il and .Iherel-ry operate the iap'folder 5l to engage the tlap and hendrand seal it to the rackedenvelop. as shown in Figs. 5 and G.

Din-ine' a]iproximately the latter half ot the shalt rotation theeanrwheel l-t' will serve to so uctuate the radius har :i0 as io retractthe earriane t'rom the. position shown in Figr. l and to move it to thesuccessive positions shown in Fils. 5 and C and return it to theoperative position shown .in Figs. l and L). And duringr the sameportion ot' the operation the rotation ot' the cam-wheel il will aetuatethe pump-rod TT-'to cause air to he compressed in the air-pump and dis-vrliare'ed to operate tl i atoinizers and spray the exposed envelop tlapou the upper rack. Thusy a `single rotation ot the driving-shaft serves-tove'lect the complete cycle ot operations described.

lilaving described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure hvLetters Patent is-h l. ln an envelop sealing macl1ine.`the comhinationwith means for exposing the flaps ofsueressive envelops at the saineplac'e. oi' a spraying device. means ior directing' the spray to theQunuiied portions of the flaps. and means for preventing the moisteningol other portions ot the envelops. f

. ln an envelop sailingmachine, the combination with means for exposingthe flaps of successive envelops at the lsame place` ot a spraying'device. means -tor directing-the spray to the guinmed portions of theflaps` and adjustable means for regulating the spread of the spray forenvelops ot' diti'erent Sizes. v

fri. lnen envelop sealing n'iachine. the combination with means forexposing the flaps of successive. envelops at the sameplace, ot aspraying` device. means for directingr the spray to the flaps, and meanstor controlling' the sin'eading oit 'the spray.

-i. In an e11\ 'elop scaling machine, the com hinatiou with means .forexposingr the Haps ot suecessire envelops at the same place, ol: anintermittently operating' si'iralyinn device, means for direetixrgy the,spray to the flaps, and an intermittently operating' carrier torremovingl the sprayed envelops in succession.

5. lu an envelop sealing n'iachine, the combination with means St'orexposingS the flaps ot' successive envelops at the saine place, of anintermittentliv operating sprayingl device, means for directing' thespray to the iaps. a flap folder, a sealing derice, and a travelingcarrier .for removing the sprayed envelops in succession and m'esentingthem successively to the actionot the flap folder and sealing device.

o. In an eilvelop-smiling machine, the comhnation with automatic meansfor successively exposing the gummed flaps of the envelops to hemoistened, of a spraying deviee, means for operating the spraying deviceperiodically to spray the exposed flaps, and means for regulating thespread of the spray. substantially as Set forth.

7. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with means forsuccessively exposing the gummed fiaps of the envelops to be moistened.of an atomizer, a spray-detiector for directing the spray to the envelopHap, and means for operating the atomizer for spraying the flaps as theyare successively exposed, substantially as set forth.

S. In an envelop-sealing machine, the comhination with means forsuccessively exposing the gummed flaps of the envelops to be moistened.of an :umnizer, a spray-defiector for directing the spray to the envelopflap, means for varying the spread of the spray to conform itsubstantially to the gummed surface of the flap, and means for operatingthe atomizer for spraying the flaps as they are successively exposed,substantially as set forth.

9. In a'n envelop-sealing machine, the comhination with means forsuccessively expos inar the gummed iaps of the envelops to hemoiste'ned, of an atomizer, a spray-deileetor ior directing the spray tothe envelop flap, means for preventing water of condensation from beingentrained by the spray, and' means for operating the atomizer forspraying the vflaps as they are successively exposed, suhstantially asset forth.

10. In an envelop-sealing machine, a spraying device including means forcausing the spray to issue in a thin sheet, a feed device, means forsupporting thereon a stack of envelo s with'their ilapsextendedineansfor yiel'ingly pressing the stack toward and successlvely presenting.rthe envelop ilaps to the action ofthe sprayer, n'ieans for directing thespray to the gummed margins of the la is, a flap-folder, a carrier forcon ducting t e envclops in succession from the feed device to positionto be operated upon hy the folder, and means for producing timelyoperations of` the s raying device, the carrier, and the flap-iinlder,substantially as set forth.

11. In an envelo -sealing machine, s.'

spraying device, a eed device, means for supporting thereon a stack ofenvelo is with their flaps extended, means for yiell pressing the stacktoward and successively presenting theenvelop fla s to the action o fthe sprayer., a carrier or' removing the sprayed envelope in succession,a holder for dingly.

receiving them from the carrier, and a folder for sealing thcfiap of theenvelop after it is delivered to the holder, substantially as set forth.

12. In an envelop-sealing machine, a feed rack for holding 'e s tack ofenvelops with their flaps extended, means for yieldlngly pressing thestack toward the feeding point,

a sprayer for moistening the flap of the exposed envelop, a storagerack, a carrier for transferring the sprayed envelop from the former tothe latter rack, and means .for

sealing the successive envelops upon their 'lll posed envelop, a storagerack, means for,

yieldingly pressing the cnvelops stacked thereon. a carrier adapted totransfer the sprayed envelop from the feed raf-k to the storage rack4and to compress the stack thereon t0 make room for the transferredenveloi, substantially as set' forth.

14. n an envelop-sealing machine, a feed rack for holding a stack ofenvelops with their flaps extended, means for yieldingly pressing the.stack toward `the feeding point, a sprayer for moistenng the flap of theex posed envelop. a storage rack. means for vieldingly pressing theenvelope stacked thereon. a carrier adapted to transfer the sprayedenvelop from the feed rack to the storage rack and to compress the stackthereon to make room for the transferred envelop, and means for sealingthe envelop so delivered hy the carrier,substantially as set forth.

15. In an envelop-sealing machine, a feed rack for holding a stack ofenvelops with their flaps extended, means for yieldngly -pressing thestack toward the feeding point, a sprayer for moistening the flap of theex posed envelop, a storage rack. a carrier for transferring the sprayedenvelop from-the former to the latter rack, Guiding ,devicesintermediate'the racks for holding the envelop to contact with itscarrier, and means for sealing the successive envelops when delivered tothe storage rack, substantially as set forth.

16. In an envelop-sealing machine, a feed rack'for holding a stack ofenvelops with their flaps extended, means for yieldingly pressing thestack toward the feeding;r point, a. sprayer for moistening the flap ofthe exposed envelop, a storage rack, a 'carrier for transferrin thesprayed envelop from the former to t e latter rack, means for sealingthe successive envelops when deliveredV to the storage rack, and meansfor adjusting the feed rack relative to the sprayer and' the storagerack relative to the sealing device for envelops of different Widths,substantially as set forth.

17. In an envelop-sealing machine, the

combination with a spraying device and means for actuating it to throw aspray periodically, of an automatic feed device for holding'envelopswith their flaps extended substantially on the planes of the envelops,and a carrier for removing the envelops .successively after their apshave been sprayed, substantially as set forth.

1S. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an automaticfeeddevice for holding envelops With their flaps extended, aperiodically operating spraying device for spraying the flap of the rstenvelop, a carrier for removing the sprayed envelop, a holder forreceiving it from the carrier, and a folder for sea-ling the ap when theenvelop is delivered to the holder, substantially as set forth.

19. In an envelop-sealing machine, the

'combination with means for exposing the aps of successive envelops atthe same place, of a spraying device, a housing for preventing thediffusion of the spray, and means for directing it to the gummedportions only of the fiaps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses this 1st day of April, 1909.

GUIDO J. ALBRECHT.

lVitnesses:

P. H. GUNCKEL, H. A. BOWMAN.

